A FOUR-month police crackdown on rural crime with special emphasis on hare coursing and poaching in the south of the Weald, has been hailed as a major success.

Police in the Weald launched Operation Orchard in August, aiming to reduce the amount of coursing and poaching in the area.

The operation, which has just ended, was also designed to reassure people living in rural communities, while also dealing with offences and treating offenders firmly.

Teams of officers were deployed on a weekly basis in direct response to intelligence reports from locals and farmers.

As a result of the operation, 29 people were reported for poaching or hare coursing; 15 cautioned for hare coursing or poaching; one arrest was made for possession of an offensive weapon, and one arrest made for failure to give correct details.

Burglaries from outbuildings were cut by 40 per cent during the operation. "Operation Orchard was an outstanding success," said Insp Andrew Judd. "The rural areas felt supported by numerous visits by Operation Orchard patrols to vulnerable and isolated farms,and it demonstrated the Weald's commitment to rural policing."